In Athens, as Theseus and Hippolyta prepare for their wedding, Egeus approaches the Duke to complain about Hennia's unwillingness to marry Demetrius. Theseus tells Hennia that the punishment for her obstinacy is either death or life imprisonment in a cloister, Undaunted, Hermia decides to seek refuge from Athenian law by escaping , with Lysander into the forest. But Helena, in whom Hermia has confided, betrays her friend to Demetrius, hopingto win his favor. Unbeknownst to the aristocratic characters, Bottom and Quince decide to produce a play in honor of Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding.